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LORETO LANDING

Tears, Cheers Greet Forces Of MacArthur Filipinos Swarm Over Beach To Welcome Yanks By RICHARD C. BERGHOLZ WITH AMERICAN RANGERS THE PHILIPPINES, Oct. 19, 1944(Delayed)— (IP) — Loreto, first large Filipino town to be liberated in the American drive back to the Philippines, greeted its deliverers with tears, cheers and ceremonies. Many of the 7,000 people of Loreto, largest town on Dinagat Island at the mouth of Leyte gulf, swarmed over the beach to welcome the American Rangers who landed nine miles north of Loreto two days ago. (The Americans landed on Dinagat and Homonhon islands two days before the main invasion of Leyte Island, and cleaned out Japanese units which might have interfered with the passage of Gen. Douglas MacArthur's convoy between the islands en route to Leyte.) Old and young, among them armed guerrillas, cheered and waved flags which they had guarded for more than two years. They embraced the husky Rangers and some of them cried with joy. The Rangers themselves choked up a bit when the Filipinos embraced them. As soon as the Rangers reached the beach they started a snappy parade down the main street. But it didn't last long. Women ran through the ranks to embrace the Rangers and men grabbed hold of the hands of all the soldiers they could reach. Soon he military lines were broken and each Ranger had a small parade of his own group of admirers. Then came the ceremonies. Ranger officers paid their respects to Tomas Caduan, the erect, gray-haired mayor, and his official staff. Loreto's police chief, Odon Galido, led the official tour of the town, pointing to buildings burned and shelled by the Japanese before the enemy left Loreto last August. Galido pointed out the Catholic and Aglipayan Philippine Independent church buildings gutted and marked by fire. The churches were looted by the Japanese.

Source: Publication: The Bee Location: Danville, Virginia Issue Date: Wednesday, October 25, 1944 Page: Page 12